If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Stick welder recommendations ?

Could you please recommend some model numbers and reasonable prices for a used basic DC stick welder that will weld 3/8 - 1/2 steel in one pass (I presume 200 to 250 amps) ? And also any new model numbers that will fit once you read my application.

I have a small farm and will be fabbing small farm implements for my 23HP tractor and doing mods on tractor, etc. I've taken a stick welding course and was cutting and drilling large holes in 1/2 in plate and welding aluminum with an arc welder. That made me think I should get more proficient at stick welding and get a larger solid used basic stick welder (NOT a crackerbox), and maybe thereafter I would get a mig for lighter work, better cosmetic beads, or convenience if I needed it and as I gained experience.

I realize you can do multiple passes with a mig welder for thicker stock. And maybe I wouldn't be welding as much 3/8 - 1/2 steel as I think and maybe somebody could convince me a smaller mig is the way to go. But I've seen the kind of stuff on a tractor forum (tractorbynet.com) these guys are doing and have been warned about getting too small a welder. And I was amazed at what I could do after only one course in stick welding.

Just seems for right now a bigger capacity plain ol' stick welder is what I need that does DC in the range I was needing to cut plate, drill holes, and weld thicker plates (3/8 - 1/2), e.g. 200 amps was about my setting on the Dialarcs the school had. I was planning on spending $800 or less for the welder alone. So things like the Econotig might not be doable, and some of the mig units I see (and the Econotig for that matter I believe) that also do stick have a stick capacity but only around 150 amps tops which I worry is not enough.

Advice ? Thanks for any. And remember, I am watching Ebay and auctions now, so specific model numbers would be very helpful. It seems there are a zillion used model numbers, but I am looking for some basic workhorse rugged unit that maybe has been working 10 years and will work another 20. Portability is not an issue as I do all the work outside my shed.

Several recommendations I've been receiving elsewhere say just go with a Hobart Stickmate 235 AC/DC or Lincoln Tombstone and be done with it.

But the DC maximum amps I'm seeing is maybe around 160-175 amps.

Is this enough when welding with DC for 3/8 - 1/2 inch plate ? Or would I have to use AC ?

I seem to recall mostly using a setting of about 200 when I was in welding class and for sure I needed a little more than that (210 amps I recall) when blowing holes through thick plate with an arc (which I really liked since it seemed to beat the heck out of drilling).

What are the limitations of having 175 max amps DC versus a 200 or 250 amp machine ?

I also got a response on one of the welding forums that you don't necessarily want to weld 3/8 or 1/2 inch in a single pass anyway due to "HAZ" (large 'heat affected zone') and an excessively large, overheated weld.

DC machines

If welding 1/2" plate 7018 1/8 rod is going to around 125 to 135 amps 5/32 rod in the range of 160 to 175 so any of the meduim duty cycle machined well work good, Ive got a dial arc 250 ac/dc and weld stuff up to 1 1/2 wear plates on equipment with it. you might want to look into a thunder bolt 225 ac/dc should due what your looking for as long as you don't have to stretch out a bunch of lead. hope this helps..

I think a Thunderbolt or other color equivellent would be just fine. I had one many yaers ago and it handled 5/32" 7018 no problem. For welding 3/8 or 1/2" plate, you will probably get the best results laying down three stringer beads as opposed to onbe big fat weld, as mentioned before. Last time I checked, about ten years ago, the Thunderbolt 250 ac/dc was around $500 Cdn, not including leads.

The list on the site is more than what a local dealer sell for.. definately Ebay is the way to get a deal for a used machine. I sold my Thunderbolt with leads and an oxy-fuel torch setup minus bottles for $300. Look around for a while, good deals are to be found.

Good deals....

Keep watching. I bought a Miller CST 250 Inverter box late last year for just over $500 including shipping. It runs on 230 - 575 volts single or three phase, has simple controls and will do all the things you mentioned and more like tig and power a feeder, etc. Good luck!